Moving on

Just about to leave
Originally uploaded by Garden Keeper

After learning to blog here, I've decided to opt for a slight upgrade in blogging sites. I'll be posting on this site from now on.

Gadget Wednesday: Bionic gloves

Bionic gloves
Originally uploaded by Garden Keeper

I have arthritis throughout my body but it is especially troubling in my hands. It's the result of too many soccer games and diving at the feet of crazed strikers. And if I have done a fair amount of work in the garden, well... it's a long night.

So I was curious about a glove that was designed to assist folks with arthritis. The Bionic glove is made by the same folks who make the Louisville Slugger baseball bats (and batting gloves). They make gloves for all sorts of activities - equestrian, driving, golf, tennis, fitness and gardening. They aren't cheap ($40) but I like them a lot.

Do they help? I think so. It's always difficult to know as one tends to pay more attention to things which skews the analysis. However, I haven't had as many painful evenings - or the need for anti-inflammatory drugs.

I don't always wear gloves when gardening as I like to feel the dirt. But when there is a chill in the air or I'm using some heavy tools, I'll use the gloves. Or when there are wolf spiders around. I don't like them. They know karate.

The Garden in early August

Color in the shade garden in August
Originally uploaded by Garden Keeper

It started to rain so I had to cut short my garden work and come back inside. Unlike last year when a drought (and my inattention) devastated the garden, this summer has been quite different. As the Boston Globe noted:

July has secured its place as one of the soggiest and stormiest on record, with double the average rainfall and thunderstorms in Greater Boston for the month, according to the National Weather Service.

Nearly everyday there is a thunderstorm with rain falling violently to the ground. More recently,we have had days that have simply been rain all day.

This has led to a rather lush garden. Of course, the weeds are as healthy as the plants but the plants are ok. A long-standing battle with voles has resulted in the loss of several hosta and some violas. I respond with increased dosages of castor oil but... the war on garden terrorists goes on.

King of the garden

King of the garden
Originally uploaded by Garden Keeper

This chipmunk has taken over my garden. He loves to climb up the chair and sit either on the arm or the back and just watch things. Often I will find him watching me toil in the garden. And he's relatively unafraid of me. He'll let me come within 2-3 feet before he starts to get nervous.

I've named him "Chris". I don't know why. He just sits and watches me work in the garden. He doesn't really help me... in fact, he's probably not great for my garden. So I've named him "Chris".

Just like my son. What a coincidence!

Web ComPosting: Favorite sites

There are several commercial/professional garden sites that I particularly enjoy.

P. Allen Smith's site is good - and getting better. Smith is a Southerner and has a wonderful, soothing voice in explaining what to do in your garden. He has several books and a TV show that can found on a number of channels including PBS stations. His site does have a "pop-up" introduction that I find annoying but it does include both text and videos to find useful information.

The Martha Stewart gardening web site was good -- and is now excellent. Martha is the reinging grande dame of gardening  and I find her gardening shows to be very useful.  In addition to very practical advice, they have added video vignettes of Martha with gardening experts. A very enjoyable site to visit and learn. 

An affiliated site is the SIRIUS Homegrown blog. Andrew and Tony are terrific on the radio (although I miss Margaret) and their blog follows their counsel on the radio. There is also a link to a very useful list of garden catalogs.

The BBC (UK) gardening web site is superb. There is a great deal of information presented in an easy to find manner. There are practical ideas with plans to enhance the garden. And there are short videos that highlight plants or projects. My favorite thing is to use their "pest and disease identifier". Through a series of questions, one is able to figure out what bug or malady is affecting your garden. I think Sherlock Holmes programmed the identifier.

And an affiliated site is the BBC Gardeners World site. Again, great information and fun to play around at the site.

Gadget Wednesday: Worth(less) pitchfork

Worth(less) fork
Originally uploaded by Garden Keeper

I'm a guy.

If there is a tool, gizmo, gadget or something shiny, the chances are that I'll be thinking about buying it. More than a year ago, I made the mistake of buying something that was two of those descriptors: a shiny tool.

I had had a pitchfork that was quite old. I think Thoreau left it in the woods. Everything metal on the tool was rusted and everything wood was splintering. So I thought I would pick out a new pitchfork. One day I was at Russell's Garden Center in Wayland - a place that I trust - and I saw this really nice, shiny pitchfork. A deep mahogany-colored handle. And the metal is quite clearly a lovely chrome. So I purchased it on the spot.

Now usually I am more careful about buying tools. I try researching something about the tool and often end up buying at Sears as they usually stand by their high quality tools.

So I put it aside for several weeks as it was too early to turn the soil.  Finally, I was working in the back garden and needed to overturn some soil. And I grabbed my shiny new tool and went out. I drove the pitch fork into the soil and tried to lift it. 

Nothing. The forks bent completely. No soil was moved. The metal acted as if it was aluminum foil. The manufacturer is Worth tools of... (ta-daaah!) China. Now the soil in my yard is not tough or hard -- too much sand. So if this thing couldn't handle that soil -- perhaps the leaf pile was the only possibility. So in addition to toys and drug products, I have found out that you really don't want to buy tools from China.

In the subsequent weeks, I have spent some time looking for a good pitch fork. I have found a superb one from Lee Valley Tools. I purchased a set of a spade and fork -- and I really love their strength.  I would recommend Lee Valley tools highly.

Even if they aren't shiny.

Curious and curiouser

Asiatic lily beetle
Originally uploaded by Garden Keeper

Two years ago, my asiatic lillies were devastated by these little red bugs. I went off to research what was going on and posted my findings.

So I prepared for the summer of 2007. I bought some supplies and had some handy, dandy little Rubbermaid cups with soapy water at hand to deal with these Marxist critters.

And nothing happened. Nothing at all. Not one appeared. And my lillies were fine.

And I got ready again this year. I was vigilant and everything was at hand.

And once again ~ nothing. No appearance of the asiatic lily beetle.

I don't understand. Not that I'm unhappy. I just don't understand what's going on with Mother Nature.

World Naked Gardening Day! Missed it again!

A Naked Gardener
Originally uploaded by Garden Keeper

Well, apparently someone has decided that there are two things that must go together. Gardening and being naked. Now, I'm not sure how all this stuff starts.

Is this an Old Testament thing? Adam and Eve?

Did that end well? Isn't the jury still out on all of that?

And then there's that English women's garden club that raised money by doffing their clothes for a calendar. And then made into a movie... with Helen Mirren. (As Jeff of "Coupling" would say, "I love Helen Mirren. She's always so... naked.")

Anyway, it's now marked by an international holiday: World Naked Gardening Day. It was May 3.

May 3! It was 45 degrees and drizzing here! In this area, you can't even put out impatiens on May 3, never mind showing your kibbles and bits!

Shouldn't they do this by heat zone?

Not that I would do this. I have a neighbor who is a cop on one side and little kids on the other side. An arrest would be quick and merciless. And as I have a body that most resembles Jack Nicholson -- and he's nearly twenty years older (71) -- my only defense would be insanity.

But more power to those who want to want to garden naked. The reason that the lovely Eva Mendes is pictured is that she once said: “I love being naked. I do everything in the nude, even the gardening... We’re Cuban, and it’s a hot island. Why not go nude?”

Right. And if you look like Eva Mendes, why not indeed.

I wonder if Heather Locklear likes to garden?